A HEALTHY AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT
Choosing Wise Alternatives to Risky Cleaning Products
In choosing the products that we use to clean our homes, we are faced with a variety of choices. There is a lot of hype about
green, eco-friendly products. But does it really matter if we use those products, or is it just a marketing gimmick?
It is true that many common household cleaning products contain chemical compounds that are shown to produce adverse
health affects. In addition, they can be dangerous to ecosystems and wildlife when then are disposed of, particularly when
they get into rivers, streams, and lakes.
In many households, cleaning products are stored right under the kitchen sink. When you think about it, placing these toxic
chemicals in close proximity to food does not seem very wise. Storing and using these
products in your home, you run the risk of them later touching our food, your child’s small
“BY WISDOM A HOUSE IS
fingers, and eventually contaminating the environment.
BUILT, AND THROUGH
UNDERSTANDING IT IS
G OOD TO K NOW …
Many organic chemicals used in cleaning products are known
ESTABLISHED.”
The best antibacterial? A little bit of
to initially cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches,
elbow grease. Antibacterial soaps
and
nausea.
Some
have
also
been
linked
to
cancer
and
-Proverbs 24:3
can allow for resistant bacteria to
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damage to liver, kidney, and nervous system. The bottom line
continue to grow and multiply, so the
is that we want household cleaners to do just that: clean – not cause damage to our selves,
Center for Disease Control and
Prevention has advised against their
our families, and the earth.
use.
Choosing healthy cleaning products is a simple way that we can take good care of the homes,
families, and world that we have been blessed with.
W HERE IN THE WORLD DO YOU START ?
There are a number of ways that you can start ridding your home of toxic cleaning products.
Above all, make sure to avoid products with chemicals that are known to be harmful. These
products can either be replaced with home-made solutions, or with manufactured products
made with safe alternatives. The following information should help you learn about your
options, and you can decide what best fits your life.
You can avoid having to use
antibacterial soaps and solutions by
making sure you scrub well, whether
it is your hands or your countertop.
Scrubbing with a natural, nonantibacterial soap will loosen the
bacteria, which can then be rinsed
away with warm water and will no
longer be harmful.
C HECK THE LABEL FOR WHAT TO AVOID . Below are six common toxic ingredients to avoid in cleaning
products. Frighteningly, companies are not required to label their products with these ingredients, so rather than
looking to see if these ingredients are listed on the label, look for products that include these in their “Does not
contain” list.1
I NGREDIENT
U SED A S …
H EALTH E FFECT
F OUND IN
Ammonia
Monoethanolamine
(MEA) and
Diethanolamine (DEA)
Grease cutter
Surfactants (help
cleaners penetrate
grime)
Asthma
All purpose cleaners
Laundry detergent, all
purpose cleaner, floor
cleaner
Glycol Ethers
Glass cleaners
Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
(APEs)
Surfactants
Phthalates
Synthetic fragrances
Hormone disrupter
Triclosan
Antibacterial cleaner
Hormone disrupter
Asthma and irritate
respiratory tracts
Reduce fertility and
sperm count
Hormone disrupter,
cancer
Glass cleaners
Laundry detergent
Fragrances in fabric
softeners, glass cleaners
Liquid hand wash
All of these ingredients can be traced back as contributing to cancer as well as disturbing your nervous and hormonal
systems. Hormone disrupters are known to have a greater affect on fetuses, infants, and young children.
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http://www.simplesteps.org/labels/six-ingredients-avoid-cleaning-products
MAKE S AFE A LTERNATIVES . Here are some common household products that can be used for cleaning
solutions, what they can be used for, and where to find them. 2
P RODUCT
Baking soda
Unscented, nonantibacterial soap
Lemon
Borax
White vinegar
Cornstarch
Citrus solvent
U SED T O …
P RACTICAL EXAMPLE
W HERE TO FIND IT
Clean, deodorize, water
soften, scour
Clean a huge range of
materials and surfaces
Fight household bacteria
Clean, deodorize, disinfect,
water soften, clean floors,
wallpaper, and printed walls
Cuts grease, removes
mildew, odors, some stains,
and wax build-up
Clean windows, polish
furniture, shampoo carpets
and rugs
Clean toothbrush or
hairbrush
Baking aisle
Washing dishes
Detergent section
Rub on smelly cutting board
Produce aisle
Alternative to bleach, boosts
soaps, and removes stains
Detergent section
Remove grease from clothes,
towels, carpets, rugs
Condiments, salad
dressings, vinegar aisle
Cleans paint brushes, oil
and grease, some stains
Soaks up smell; sprinkle on
carpet, let sit for 30
minutes, and vacuum up
Use instead of paint
thinner, clean painting
materials
Baking aisle
Laundry aisle
Often, you don’t need harsh chemicals to do a good job cleaning. You can use the items in the table above to make
pretty much any kind of cleaning solution you could ever need. To make your own inexpensive, natural
alternatives for cleaning, check out: eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm
PURCHASE S AFE A LTERNATIVES . If you would rather purchase safe, ready-made cleaners, there are a number
of labels to look for when shopping for. These are a few who offer healthy, environmentally friendly cleaning
products:
Green Works
Seventh Generation
EcoConcepts
Method
Taking care of the world we’ve been given begins with the small things that make your heart bigger. Be
encouraged! Together, each of our small steps makes a big difference.
Questions? Comments? E-mail abbey@ restoringeden.org.
www.RestoringEden.org
© Restoring Eden, 2010. May reprint with permission.
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Eartheasy.com